- President Ranil Wickremesinghe calls on Emperor Naruhito at Imperial Palace in Tokyo: also holds bilateral discussion with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
- Foreign funded Advocata Institute says electricity tariff increase is necessary because prices charged to consumers are below cost, leading to large deficits: claims the energy subsidy is financed through “money printing” which contributes to the on-going balance of payments crisis.
- Cardinal Ranjith demands gloomy Christmas: wants tourism leaders to provide for the poor instead of spending money to celebrate Christmas: criticises the illumination of the City of Colombo.
- Former Foreign Minister Professor G L Peiris questions legality of the High Security Zones declared in terms of the “outdated” Official Secrets Act: controversial gazette expected to be rescinded shortly.
- National Freedom Front Leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa says the economic crisis is persisting because of the debt default announcement made by CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe as soon as he assumed office.
- Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says Wildlife Department spends Rs.2.8 bn annually to provide free fire-crackers to repel wild elephants to safeguard villages in vulnerable areas: government incurs an additional interest charge of Rs.398.4 bn in 5 months up to August ’22, after the Central Bank increased its policy interest rates by a massive 7%.
- Chairman, Elections Commission says an official announcement will be made early next year on the date of the Local Government Election: also says the youth voters’ registry is being updated now.
- Residents blame drug addicts for the fire that gutted at least 60 houses in suburban area of Kajeemawatte where there are about 300 wooden houses.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena says he has been informed by certain police officers that girls from very respectable families have become prostitutes.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian PM Narendra Modi discuss Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring, in Tokyo, at a meeting that lasted around 10 minutes: President says Sri Lanka won’t do anything that will jeopardize India’s security.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 29/09
FitsAir to launch international flights from Sri Lanka soon .
FitsAir, promoted by Fits Aviation, a member of the Aberdeen Holdings group, said that commercial operations will commence from 5th October.
The privately-owned airline, operating A320-200 aircraft, has opened bookings for its international flights, connecting Colombo to Dubai, Male and Trichy.
In a significant move, veteran professional and top aviation expert Peter Hill has been appointed to the helm and to drive operations, along with a team of seasoned Sri Lankan professionals.
Top aviation expert Peter Hill, the Vice President, Passenger Operations, FitsAir, said that the airline also hopes to launch flights from Ratmalana to Jaffna and from Jaffna to India.
“FitsAr will cater to the needs of the modern Sri Lankan traveller who wants competitive fares, an in-flight service that is efficient without any ‘frills’ , he added.
It is combined with options of baggage allowance, where you do not pay for the weight of baggage which you carry – where there is no obligation to pay the full fair if your baggage is less in weight” he explained
The premise is that we do not want to waste a passenger’s time, money or energy in the process of travelling,” added Hill, who went on to note that FitsAir, due to its pricing competitiveness, will make air travel a viable option for many Sri Lankans.
“However, in true Sri Lankan hospitality, all passengers will get a complimentary refreshment pack, although substantial meals, beverages and snacks will be available for purchase on board plus pre-bookings.”
A free checked-in baggage allowance of 30kgs will be provided to all customers, and a free carry-on bag of 7 kgs.
FitsAir will also offer reduced fares for baggage of no more than 20 kgs. Passengers can purchase excess baggage at the airport, subject to space availability.
The airline has been operating through its predecessor, Expo Aviation, predominantly in the cargo sector for the past 25 years.
A year ago, the owners decided on the scheduled regional passenger market and now have a fleet of three Airbus A320-200 aircraft in its fleet.
It is part of FiTS Aviation (PVT) LTD, a member of the prestigious Aberdeen Holding Group of Companies. It is privately owned and run by a team of seasoned Sri Lankan professionals, together with a couple of well-known expatriates from the local aviation community.
From the outset, FitsAir has been designed to provide affordable scheduled air travel to customers between Sri Lanka and destinations between Sri Lanka and destinations within SAARC, GCC and SEAsia.
All the Airbus A320-200 aircraft are registered in Sri Lanka and are operated under the jurisdiction of the Director-General, Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka. The technical and cabin crew are all Sri Lankan and comprise a unique blend of seasoned professionals and fresh, fully-qualified younger faces.
It plans to commence services between Colombo’s Ratmalana Airport and Jaffna and then develop a mini-hub in Jaffna, to serve a range of South Indian cities are also underway. Flights out of Ratmalana and Jaffna would be served with 70-seat turboprop aircraft.
A range of domestic services are also in the plans, based around Ratmalana Airport working with Tour Operators/Hoteliers, to provide swift transfers and short-duration sightseeing tours. These services would use 12-seater Cessna Caravan aircraft
SL apparel industry pledges fullest support to ILO’s Better Work initiative
The apex body of the apparel industry, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) pledged absolute support to the International Labour ( ILO’s) Better Work initiative demonstrating the industry’s deep commitment to prioritizing people and their well-being.
The ILO recently launched Better Work (BW) with the objective of strengthening the resilience of industry using Better Work’s extensive experience, tools and partnerships exemplifying a human-centered recovery and growth.
Recognizing that the apparel sector in Sri Lanka starts from a relatively high bar, the BW programme for Sri Lanka is not a roll out of the programme done in other countries but is bespoke to Sri Lanka allowing companies to build on the work already done in this area
One of the industries in focus in Better Work, is the apparel industry, Sri Lanka’s largest exporter employing nearly one million both directly and indirectly across 350 manufacturing plants island wide.
Better Work concentrates on occupational safety and health, gender diversity and inclusion including leadership skills training and career development for women workers, empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with leadership and financial literacy training and an SME factory improvement toolkit.
The apparel industry’s internationally acclaimed trust and reputation is anchored in the unique niche of prioritizing ethical labour practices and JAAF believes strongly that Better Work is an opportunity to partner with local and international stakeholders to strengthen the commitment of ensuring decent work environments built on gender equality, safety, health, inclusion and holistic empowerment.
Speaking at the formal launch of the event, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara extended government support to the initiative stating,
The program is a significant step in promoting better OSH practices and standards so that the already high standards of the apparel sector could be further elevated.
This will in return send a strong message to the key stakeholders of the industry ecosystem about our commitment to the apparel industry”.
The industry encourages plants to implement welfare measures to best suit the requirements of their workers from as early as June of 2022.
Approximately 80% of apparel manufacturers made cost-of-living adjustments to salaries over and above their annual increments. In some instances, these represent a 25% increase from 2021.
USA provides US $10 million worth of medicine for Sri lanka
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena expressed his gratitude to Direct Relief USA for its donation of life-saving medicines worth US$ 10 million to hospitals in Sri Lanka.
Speaking with the Direct Relief USA Emergency Response Manager Chris Alleway and Senior Communication Specialist Maeve O’Connor at the Prime Minister’s office in Colombo on Monday (26), he said the medicines provided by the Direct Relief USA will save many lives of Sri Lankans.
The Prime Minister said the health authorities would immediately supply these medicines to the hospitals faced with shortage. He pointed out that Sri Lanka boasts of an excellent health service with adequate hospitals and medical personnel across the country and the main drawback is the shortage of some medicines due to the economic crisis.
While the government took steps to import medicine immediately, such donations from friends of Sri Lanka would be of much help to fulfill immediate requirements, he added.
Emergency Response Manager Alleway said that Direct Relief USA selected medicines needed at Sri Lankan hospitals after close coordination with the Ministry of Health, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the US-based Medical Help Sri Lanka Global Alliance.
Communication Coordinator of Medical Help Sri Lanka Global Alliance Paddy Dissanayake, together with the members of Sri Lanka Associations jointly work with various humanitarian aid organisations in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia and several other countries and obtained essential emergency medicines for Sri Lanka.
During the month of September, Medical Help SL Global Alliance in collaboration with Direct Relief USA donated several consignments of medicines worth US $ 20.3 million (SL Rs 7. 3 Billion).
Direct Relief has also dispatched emergency medical supplies recently for delivery to Sri Lanka, including 22 pallets of insulin in partnership with Life for a Child.
The insulin stock has been distributed to eleven hospitals and healthcare facilities around the country in coordination with the Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists.
This shipment was an annual supply of long-acting insulin for 212 children and young adults under 25 managing Type 1 Diabetes in Sri Lanka..
Keheliya indicted for using public money to pay household bills
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and two others were indicted for misappropriation of public funds at the Colombo High Court today.
The case assigned by the Bribery Commission was called before the Colombo High Court today.
After handing over the indictment, the High Court decided to release the minister and the defendants on bail and the case is scheduled to be heard again on November 3rd.
The minister has been accused of using public money to settle the telephone bill at his home.
Court orders to arrest Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero
The Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court today ordered that Uduwe Dhammaleka Thera be immediately arrested and produced before the court. This order has been issued due to Dhammaloka Thera’s failure to appear for an ongoing case in that court.
This case has been filed against Uduway Thero for disturbing the public through the use of loud loudspeakers by former Minister Milinda Moragoda and others.
The court decided to recall this case on October 31.
Government officials prohibited from posting on Facebook?
A circular has been issued to government officials regarding expressing opinions through social media.
It is stated in the relevant circular that it is an offense for a government official to comment on social media without following the provisions of the Institutional Code as stated in Section 03 of State Administration Circular 04/2015.
This circular has been issued by the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, M.M.P.K. Mayadunne.
Japan expresses willingness to lead creditors in SL’s debt restructure– Japanese FM
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed his country’s willingness to take a leading role in Sri Lanka’s creditor talks on debt restructuring
.Mr Hayashi gave this assurance when he held talks President Ranil Wickremesinghe held Tuesday morning in Tokyo.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that discussion on restructuring Sri Lanka’s bilateral debt has already commenced with India and China at a lower level and that he has held talks with Japan on their leading role in the process.
He stated that talks with China would go to a higher level probably after the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.
The President stated this during an exclusive interview with StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A.Gokhale Responding to a question regarding the progress made thus far with regard to resolving the economic crisis, he said:“We’ve had discussion with the IMF. We have come to a staff level agreement.
But now we have to deal with our creditors. We didn’t have to do that earlier, we didn’t have this serious crisis. But now we have to deal with our creditors. We are unable to service our debts. Once we have a final… come to a conclusion with the creditors then we will go back to the IMF board.
“So, if you are looking at what is the phase we are in, okay we are implementing the prior actions that are required under the staff-level agreement and we have started the discussions with the bilateral creditors.
Once that’s over I think we have to do with the private creditors. “We are just starting the talks with China.
We’ll have to go to a higher level, but we have to now see whether we do it before the Chinese Communist Party conference or after.
He said “Since we are just starting the talks it may have to be just after the conference. But we will first talk with Japan then we will have the discussion with India.”
President Wickremesinghe expressed regret over the breakdown of relations between Japan and Sri Lanka following the cancellation of several investment projects by the former Government.
The President stressed that he was keen to restart those projects.The President also indicated that the Government was interested in Japan investing in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy projects.
Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi explained that Japan had increased its commitment to renewable energy and would be willing to explore future investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
The Foreign Minister also explained that Japan would begin the skilled worker examinations in January 2023 for Sri Lankan migrant workers.
The President appreciated the support extended by Japan on the international stage and expressed the Government’s willingness to support both Japan’s and India’s campaign to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The Foreign Minister welcomed the news, stressing that Asia required greater representation on the world stage.
Janaka challenges Kanchana!
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Janaka Ratnayake says that he is waiting for the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera or the CEYPETCO to go before the court against him. He says that if a case is filed against him, a lot of information will be revealed before the court.
Janaka Ratnayake stated in a televised discussion that the crude oil imported by the Petroleum Statutory Corporation is substandard and the crude oil obtained from the refinery cannot be used for electricity production. Janaka Ratnayake also mentioned that the crude oil cannot be used for any other purpose except to give it to the people who brought it to ‘drink’.
Responding to that, Kanchana Wijesekera had released a message on Twitter. He says he completely denies the allegations leveled by the chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. The minister has also said that legal action will be taken against him.
Janaka Rathnayake further states that what the minister should do is to look into the allegations and if there is a mistake, correct it, not to chase the people who point out the mistakes.
Ranil leaves for the Philippines today after meeting the PM of Japan
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is on an official visit to Japan, is scheduled to meet the Japanese Prime Minister today. In addition, the President’s Media Division says that he is also scheduled to meet the Emperor of Japan.
Wickramasinghe is scheduled to leave for the Philippines today after concluding his visit to Japan. It is to participate in the Asian Development Bank Governors’ Conference that will begin in that country. Sri Lanka has the chairmanship of this year’s conference.
During his stay in the Philippines, Ranil Wickramasinghe is scheduled to meet with the Chairman of the Asian Development Bank and after that he is scheduled to meet with the President of the Philippines.
These days, Sri Lanka is holding talks with creditor countries and organizations regarding debt restructuring, and for this reason, the President’s visit to the Philippines will be extremely crucial.